Designation: D6909 10 (Reapproved 2016)

Standard Specification for

High Temperature and Acid-Resistant Fluorocarbon

Terpolymer Elastomer1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6909; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon () indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

D2240 Test Method for Rubber PropertyDurometer Hardness

1. Scope
1.1 This specification covers requirements for the fluorocarbon terpolymer elastomer used in the manufacture of expansion joints for use in coal-fired utilities and other high
temperature industrial applications in which corrosive flue
gases are present.

3. Ordering Information
3.1 The seller shall mention this specification number in all
quotations and when acknowledging purchase order.

1.2 This specification is intended as a reference procedure

for evaluating the performance of these vulcanizates and can
also be used for quality assurance testing before release of a lot
based on agreement between supplier and purchaser.

4. Materials and Manufacture

4.1 Material shall be based on 100 % virgin fluoroelastomer
terpolymer of at least 68 % by weight of fluorine content. The
compound shall contain no less than 70 % by weight of
fluoroelastomer. The remaining 30 % by weight shall be
comprised of Medium Thermal (MT) carbon black, Classification N 990 (in Classification D1765), as reinforcing filler. No
mineral fillers shall be used. The fluoroelastomer curative shall
be of the bisphenol (dihydroxy), or peroxide types. No amount
of reprocessed fluoroelastomer scrap or nonfluoroelastomer
polymer is acceptable.

1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as

standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
only.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory requirements prior to use.

4.2 As-received virgin fluroelastomer sampled in accordance with Section 6 shall be fully press-cured, typically for 20
min at 150C (302F), but not post-cured. Other time/
temperature conditions are acceptable providing they produce
vulcanizates that meet the property requirements.

2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:2
D297 Test Methods for Rubber ProductsChemical Analysis
D412 Test Methods for Vulcanized Rubber and Thermoplastic ElastomersTension
D471 Test Method for Rubber PropertyEffect of Liquids
D573 Test Method for RubberDeterioration in an Air
Oven
D1765 Classification System for Carbon Blacks Used in
Rubber Products

5. Physical Properties
5.1 The mean value of the individual samples shall meet the
physical and chemical property requirements shown in Table 1.
5.2 A sample shall be exposed to 260 6 3C (500 6 5F)
for 70 6 0.5 h per Test Method D573 and conform with the
following property change requirements to determine dry heat
resistance:
Hardness Change
Tensile Strength Change
Elongation Ultimate
Weight Change

1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D11 on Rubber
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D11.37 on Coated Fabrics, Rubber
Threads and Seals. This specification was developed in cooperation with the Fluid
Sealing Assocation (Specification FSA-DSJ-401-09).
Current edition approved July 1, 2016. Published August 2016. Originally
approved in 2003. Last previous edition approved in 2010 as D6909 10. DOI:
10.1520/D6909-10R16.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standards Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.

10 points
+50 % max
225 % min
7 % max

5.3 The material color shall be black.

6. Sampling
6.1 Sampling and testing shall be as follows:
6.1.1 For acceptance tests, sufficient product shall be taken
at random from each lot to perform all required tests. The
number of samples tested per lot shall be no less than three.

Copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States

D6909 10 (2016)
TABLE 1 Properties
Property

Requirement

Hardness, Durometer
Shore A or equivalent
Tensile strength, min
Elongation, min
Specific gravity
Volume Swell - Methanol
Volume Swell - Toluene

7.1.1.6 Volume Swell Toluene (see Table 1); and

7.1.1.7 Heat aging, as received (see 5.2).
7.1.2 Shipments and certification with test values from
acceptance tests in 7.1.1 shall include traceability back to
polymers, grade, and lot number.

Test Methods

77 5

D2240

7.0 MPa (1015 psi)

275 %
1.86 0.04
30 % max
10 % max

D412
D412
D297
D471 70 0.5 h at 23 3C
D471 70 0.5 h at 23 3C

7.2 Preproduction TestsTests for all technical requirements are preproduction tests and shall be performed initially
and just prior to shipment of the expansion joints to the buyer,
or when a change of ingredients or processing or both requires
reapproval or when the buyer deems confirmatory testing is
required.

6.1.2 ASTM International test specimens shall be prepared

from the same batch of polymer/compound as the material
being supplied and shall be fully press-cured as specified in
4.2.
6.1.3 A lot is all compound processed in one continuous run
and presented to the purchaser at one time.
6.1.4 A batch is the quantity of compound run through a mill
or mixer at one time.
6.1.5 The seller shall use ingredients and manufacturing
processes on specification test samples that are essentially the
same as those on the approved product.

8. Inspection
8.1 The seller of the expansion joints shall be responsible
for preparation of all batch test samples, conducting all the
required specification tests, and providing the test data. The
buyer reserves the right to obtain additional batch samples and
perform all confirmatory testing necessary to ensure the
product conforms to the full requirements of this specification.
9. Certification

7. Number of Test and Retests

9.1 The seller shall furnish with each shipment a report

showing the test results on each lot so that conformance to
acceptance requirements can be determined. Documentation
must include traceability back to polymer type, supplier, and
suppliers lot number.

7.1 Acceptance TestsThe seller of the expansion joint

shall be responsible for checking the batch sample test results,
confirming that the results are in accordance with this
specification, and preparing the Batch Test Certification
report. The buyer reserves the right to perform confirmatory
tests as deemed necessary to ensure that the product conforms
to the Batch Test Certification and the full requirements of
this specification.
7.1.1 Acceptance tests shall cover the following properties:
7.1.1.1 Hardness, as received (see Table 1);
7.1.1.2 Tensile strength, as received (see Table 1);
7.1.1.3 Elongation, as received (see Table 1);
7.1.1.4 Specific gravity, as received (see Table 1);
7.1.1.5 Volume Swell Methanol (see Table 1);

10. Quality Assurance

10.1 The product, as received, shall be uniform in quality
and condition, smooth, as free from foreign materials as
commercially practical, and free from imperfections detrimental to use as intended.
11. Keywords
11.1 expansion joints; fluorocarbon terpolymer elastomer;
fluoroelastomer

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